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Scoop27
09-14-2013, 03:32 AM
By Anthony Maenza sports@thefacts.com | 0 comments

WHARTON — First half momentum turned into a second-half nightmare for the Columbia Roughnecks on Friday night as they lost to Wharton 44-28 in a non-district game.

After a first half in which the Roughnecks dominated possession of the football, things fell apart.

Wharton outgained Columbia 273-155 in the second half. Of those yards gained by Columbia in the final two quarters, 50 came on a touchdown pass from Jarius Kesee to Brock Bailey with 50 seconds left in the game.

“In the first half special teams really hurt us,” Columbia Coach Randy Lynch said. “In the second half, we had to play catch-up. But the kids continued to battle to the end. We have to do that every game.”

Wharton’s Toney Rogers gained 168 yards rushing and scored on touchdown runs of 15, 38 and 42 yards in the second half. Teammate Anthony Ray scored the other Wharton touchdown in the second half on an 8-yard run.

Kesee finished the night with 226 yards passing. He completed 15 of 27 passes on the night and had one interception.

Columbia running back Dakarius Bell had a good night running the ball as he rushed for 129 yards.

Columbia dominated possession of the ball in the first half, but only clung to a 22-15 lead at halftime. The Roughnecks outgained the Tigers 264 to 19 in the first two quarters, but Wharton’s special teams play kept the game close.

Wharton took the lead with 10:57 left in the first quarter when Dontay Bell returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. Rogers caught a two-point conversion pass from Joseph Krenek to give the Tigers an 8-0 lead.

The Roughnecks battled back later in the first quarter to tie the game. Dennis Moody caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Kesee with 6:14 left in the first quarter. Moody then caught the two-point conversion pass from Kesee to tie the game 8-8.

There were two big plays on the 71-yard drive. Punter Zach Dodds completed a 30-yard pass to LaMarquis Fields on a fake punt with 9:25 left in the first quarter to keep the drive alive. Then Kesee completed a 27- yard pass to Kalen Williams to the Wharton 4 yard line to set up the touchdown pass.

Columbia took the lead with 41 seconds left in the first quarter when Dakarius Bell ran the ball into the end zone from 19 yards out. The play capped an 88-yard drive.

On the ensuing kickoff, Wharton’s LeeShad O’Neal returned the ball 65 yards for a touchdown with 27 seconds left in the first quarter. Columbia regained the lead with 8:58 left in the second quarter. Brandon Harris caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Kesee. The two-point conversion pass was good and gave the Roughnecks a 7-point advantage